Axpo and e-STORAGE agree their first joint battery project in Italy

23.06.26 – Axpo and Canadian Solar Inc. subsidiary e-STORAGE have agreed to develop an 8 MW/40 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in southern Italy, it was announced today. Construction at Axpo’s Rizziconi power plant in Calabria is due to begin end of 2026, with deliveries of electricity to the grid expected early 2028.

In brief:

• Axpo and e-STORAGE announce installation of integrated BESS at Axpo's Rizziconi power plant, with grid deliveries expected early 2028.
• System will capture surplus solar energy and dispatch it when needed, easing strain on Calabria's power grid.
• Project marks beginning of a broader collaboration between Axpo and e-STORAGE across continental Europe.

The battery storage system will be installed at Axpo's existing combined-cycle gas power plant in Rizziconi, Calabria, using its established grid interconnection to provide flexibility and balancing services. All BESS safety standards and operational reliability protocols will be strictly followed at the facility, ensuring seamless integration with grid and thermal operations.

Under the agreement, e-STORAGE will deliver a complete and integrated solution that combines 9 SolBank 3.0 battery blocks, Power Conversion Systems (PCS), and the company's proprietary EQ-S energy management system into a single coordinated system under one accountable partner. The system will be installed at Axpo's existing combined-cycle gas plant in Rizziconi, using its existing grid interconnection to provide flexibility and balancing services.

Axpo Group Head of Batteries & Hybrid Systems Frank Amend said: "We're excited to begin the construction of our first BESS project in Italy. This will be an important addition to our portfolio as we execute our ambitious BESS strategy to strengthen grid flexibility and advance the energy transition in Europe. We’re also excited to partner with e-STORAGE on this project. Their integrated approach aligns with our commitment to delivering reliable and innovative energy solutions across Europe.”

e-STORAGE President Jeff Roy added: "To enter one of Europe's most dynamic storage markets through an integrated project like this proves just how effectively our technology can adapt to real grid needs. We’re pleased to begin work with Axpo in Italy, and see this agreement as the foundation for a longer-term partnership supporting customers across Europe.”

Local flexibility for a resilient grid

The Rizziconi project is a specific response to conditions in southern Italy, where rising solar output regularly exceeds what the network can absorb by midday. Batteries that store surplus generation and dispatch it to the grid later are key to managing this situation. Historically, Calabria has faced higher power costs and weaker grid connectivity than northern Italy, which makes local flexibility especially valuable.

The e-STORAGE system will capture solar energy that would otherwise be wasted and return it to the grid when needed. This will ease the pressure on a constrained network and help lower the cost of electricity for a region of Italy that has long depended on distant supplies of energy from the north and elsewhere. The installation announced today is the first step in a broader relationship between e-STORAGE and Axpo, which the two companies intend to deepen over time.

A further step in its expansion across continental Europe, this is the first e-STORAGE project in Italy. The battery cells and 5-MWh capacity SolBank 3.0 pack systems that will be installed at the Rizziconi plant are developed and manufactured at parent company Canadian Solar's manufacturing facilities, giving customers complete supply chain visibility and compliance.